We have to forgive others because we have been forgiven much. Jesus’ commandment was to love God first and love others as ourselves. Love forgives… Jesus prayed in the ‘Our Father’:

“forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us”

… and He demonstrated this on the Cross, when the whole world was against Him:

“Father, forgive them, because they know not what they do”.

If Jesus forgave us, the least we can do is forgive others. And if we do not forgive others, we won’t be forgiven or be connected to God as love is the connection. We cannot be truly free until we really learn to love…